Information recording medium, information recording method, information recording apparatus, information reproducing method and information reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information recording medium comprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance. The volume space is constructed so as to allow a logical zone for recording at least a volume-file structure and an over-run protection area for preventing an access to an unrecorded area to be alternately allocated in the volume space. The lead-in area and the over-run protection area each include a chain volume management information area for storing chain volume management information. The chain volume management information includes address information of a subsequent logical zone and address information of a subsequent chain volume management information area.

This is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/870,405filed May 30, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information recording medium, and amethod and an apparatus for recording information into the medium. Thepresent invention also relates to a method and an apparatus forreproducing information recorded in the information recording medium.More particularly, the present invention relates to an informationrecording medium in which a lead-in area and an over-run protectionarea, both including an area which records chain volume managementinformation for obtaining the end position of an accessible area, andwhich has a file structure in which a specific virtual address isassigned to a specific file structure, and a method and an apparatus forrecording information into the information recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, various types of media have been used for recording digitaldata. Among other things, a DVD-R disk is becoming the focus ofattention as an inexpensive optical disk having a large capacity. Thewriting or reading operation of the DVD-R disk will be described belowwith reference to FIGS. 13 through 18. In the following description, adescriptor, a pointer, and the like, which are recorded as volume filestructure, are in conformity with ISO/IEC 13346 standards or universaldisk format (UDF) standards unless otherwise specified.

In brief, the description is as follows. Initially, a data structurediagram of an information recording medium shown in FIG. 13 and a blockstructure diagram of an information recording/reproducing apparatusshown in FIG. 15 will be described.

Next, a data structure diagram of the information recording medium aftera closing process shown in FIG. 18 will be described with reference to aflowchart of a closing process shown in FIG. 17.

Finally, the operation of the information recording/reproducingapparatus when reproducing a file will be described with reference toFIG. 15 and a flowchart of a reproduction process in the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 19.

In FIG. 13, a conventional information recording medium 1300 is shown.The information recording medium 1300 is, for example, one which is inconformity with DVD-R physical standards (version 1.0). For example, afile is recorded in the information recording medium 1300 using a volumefile structure in conformity with DVD-R file system standards (version1.0).

FIG. 14 shows a directory structure. A file recorded in the informationrecording medium 1300 are managed in accordance with the directorystructure of FIG. 14.

In FIG. 13, a lead-in area 108 including a physical format informationarea 1332 is provided at the head of a data recording area in theinformation recording medium 1300. Following the lead-in area 108, avolume space 104 is provided.

In a formatting process, in the volume space 104, a volume structurearea 118, a file structure/file area 120, and a virtual allocation table(VAT) structure area 1322 are created. A volume structure area 118 whichstores a volume structure is provided at the head of the volume space104.

Further, upon recording an AVfile which is managed in accordance withthe directory structure of FIG. 14, a file structure/file area 124 and aVAT structure area 1326 are created.

Next, in a closing process which enables the information reproducingapparatus incapable of detecting a position in an unrecorded area tosearch the current volume file structure while prohibiting access to anunrecorded area, a border-out area 1310 and a physical formatinformation area 1332 are created in a data recording area 102. Theborder-out area 1310 includes a state determination area 1334. Thephysical format information area 1332 is provided in the lead-in area108 which is unrecorded after the formatting process. The details of theconventional closing process procedure will be described later.

Further, upon recording a Datafile, which is managed in accordance withthe directory structure of FIG. 14, a file structure/file area 128 and aVAT structure area 1330 are created in the volume space 104.

Finally, by executing the closing process again, a border-out area 1312,a state determination area 1334, and a border-in area 1311 are createdin the volume space 104. The border-out area 1312 includes a statedetermination area 1336 which is unrecorded. The state determinationarea 1334 provided in the border-out area 1310 and the border-in area1311 including a physical format information area 1335 are recorded inthe volume space 104.

Every time the closing process is executed, a logical zone, in which avolume file structure and a file are recorded, is created in the volumespace 104. In the volume space 104, the logical zone is positionedbetween the lead-in area 108 or a border-in area and a border-out area.

A detailed data structure of physical format information will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 13. The physical formatinformation includes the address information of a logical zone, theaddress information of a border-out area, and the address information ofa border-in area which are used to manage such a zone and areas providedin the information recording medium 1300.

Since the border-in area 1311 is created from the head of an unrecordedarea 138, the physical format information recorded in the physicalformat information area 1335 includes the address information of theunrecorded area 138 as the address information of the border-in area1311.

Further, the address information of a border-out area included in thephysical format information and the address information of an unrecordedarea are utilized so as to prevent a reproduction-only apparatusincapable of detecting a position in a data unrecorded area fromdetecting a position in the data unrecorded area and erroneouslyaccessing the unrecorded area. The address information of a logical zoneis utilized so as to search the latest VAT structure created at the endof the logical zone.

VATs 1363, 1369, and 1375 and VATICBs 164, 170, and 176 which arerecorded in the VAT structure areas 1322, 1326, or 1330, respectively,each have a data structure in conformity with the UDF standards. Withsuch a data structure, updating a file structure may be simplified in awrite-once recording medium. A recording position of a file structure,such as a file entry, is pointed to by a virtual address in a virtualaddress space. A recording position on a disk is pointed to by a logicaladdress in a logical address space. A correspondence between such alogical address and such a virtual address is stored in a VAT. Arecording position for a VAT is pointed to by a VATICB provided at theend sector of an area in which data is recorded. A virtual addressregistered in a VAT is typically provided in each file managementinformation in ascending order of registration to the VAT.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1500. The informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1500 includes a system control unit 201,a memory circuit 202, an I/O bus 203, a magnetic optical disk device204, and an optical disk drive device 205.

The system control unit 201 is realized using a microprocessor includinga system control program and a memory. Specifically, the system controlunit 201 includes a volume structure recording unit 211 for recording avolume structure, a volume structure reproducing unit 214 forreproducing a volume structure, a file structure recording unit 212 forrecording a file structure, a file structure reproducing unit 215 forreproducing a file structure, a file recording unit 213 for recordingfile data, a file reproducing unit 216 for reproducing file data, aclosing process unit 217 for instructing execution of a closing process,a VAT structure recording unit 281 for recording a VAT structure, and aVAT structure reproducing unit 282 for reproducing a VAT structure.

The memory circuit 202 includes a data memory 221 for operating ortemporarily storing a volume structure, a file structure and a file, anda VAT structure memory 283 for operating or temporarily storing a VATstructure.

The optical disk drive device 205 includes a drive control unit 231, amemory circuit 232, an internal bus 233, a recording/reproducing unit234, and an information recording medium 1300.

The drive control unit 231 is realized using a microprocessor includinga drive control program and a memory. Specifically, the drive controlunit 231 includes a border-out area recording unit 261, a physicalformat information reproducing unit 262, a physical format informationrecording unit 263, a state determination area recording unit 264, aborder-in area recording unit 265, and a state determination areareproducing unit 267.

The memory circuit 232 includes a physical format information memory 266used in operating or temporarily storing physical format information anda buffer memory 241 used in operating or temporarily storing datatransferred to the optical disk drive device 205.

A closing process for a DVD-R disk will be described with reference toFIGS. 13, 15, 16, 17, and 18.

FIG. 16 is a data structure diagram of the information recording medium1300 after a formatting process. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing theclosing process. FIG. 18 is a data structure diagram of the informationrecording medium 1300 after a closing process.

(S1701) The system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drivedevice 205 to execute a closing process in accordance with a controlprogram incorporated with the closing process unit 217.

The drive control unit 231 of the optical disk drive device 205 recordsdata into a border-out area in accordance with a control programincorporated with the border-out area recording unit 261.

As to the operation of recording data to a border-out area, dummy datais recorded into the border-out area 1312, excluding the statedetermination area 1336, in the data structure diagram of FIG. 13, anddummy data in recorded in the border-out area 1310, excluding the statedetermination area 1334. For example, the dummy data is 00h.

(S1702) The drive control unit 231 reproduces data from the physicalformat information area 1332 provided in the lead-in area 108, inaccordance with a control program incorporated with the physical formatinformation reproducing unit 262.

When the physical format information area 1332 included in the lead-inarea 108 is not unrecorded as shown in FIG. 13, the optical disk drivedevice 205 stores reproduced physical format information into thephysical format information memory 266 of the memory circuit 232 andthen executes step S1703 and thereafter.

When the physical format information area 1332 included in the lead-inarea 108 is unrecorded (for example, see FIG. 16), data cannot bereproduced from the designated physical format information area 1332. Inthis case, the drive control unit 231 executes step S1705 andthereafter.

(S1703) The drive control unit 231 records 00h as dummy data into thestate determination area 1334, which is unrecorded in FIG. 18, forexample, in accordance with a control program incorporated with thestate determination area recording unit 264. Thereby, the statedetermination area 1334 which is not unrecorded is created as shown inFIG. 13.

(S1704) In accordance with a control program incorporated with theborder-in area recording unit 265, the drive control unit 231 createsphysical format information and records the physical format informationin the border-in area from the head of the unrecorded area 138 of FIG.18 and thereafter, for example. In this recording operation, theborder-in area 1311, including the physical format information area1335, is recorded following the border-out area 1310 as shown in FIG.13, for example.

(S1705) In accordance with a control program incorporated with thephysical format information recording unit 265, the drive control unit231 creates physical format information, and records the physical formatinformation into the physical format information area 1332 included inthe lead-in area 108.

When the above-described file recording and closing processes areexecuted with respect to the information recording medium 1300 having aformatted data structure shown in FIG. 16, a data structure shown inFIG. 18 is created in the information recording medium 1300. The addressinformation of state determination areas are managed using a recordmanagement area (not shown) existing in an inner track inside a lead-inarea.

When a file recording process is executed with respect to theinformation recording medium 1300 in which the data structure of FIG. 18has been recorded, a Datafile shown in FIG. 14 and a file structure areadditionally recorded. Further, when a closing process is executed inaccordance with a procedure shown in FIG. 17, the data structure of FIG.13 is created in the information recording medium 1300.

A procedure of reproducing an AVfile in accordance with the flowchart ofFIG. 19 will be described with reference to the data structures of FIGS.13 and 16 and the block diagram of FIG. 15.

(S1901) When the drive control unit 231 detects that a disk is insertedinto the optical disk drive device 205, the drive control unit 231actuates the recording/reproducing unit 234 in accordance with thecontrol program incorporated with the physical format reproducing unit262, and reproduces data recorded in the physical format informationarea 1332 of the lead-in area 108. Thereafter, the reproduced physicalformat information of the reproduced physical format information area1332 is transferred to the physical format information memory 266.

(S1902) The drive control unit 231 retrieves the address information ofa state determination area from the address information of a border-outarea included in the physical format information retrieved in step S1901or S1904 in accordance with the control program incorporated with thephysical format information reproducing unit 262. Thereafter, the drivecontrol unit 231 makes an attempt to reproduce data in the statedetermination area. In FIG. 13, the address information 1342 of theborder-out area 1310 recorded in the physical format information area1332 includes the address information of the state determination area1334, and the address information 1346 of the border-out area 1312recorded in the physical format information area 1335 includes theaddress information of the state determination area 1336.

When the state determination area designated by step S1902 is notunrecorded, step S1903 and thereafter are executed. When the statedetermination area designated by step S1902 is unrecorded, step S1905and thereafter are executed.

(S1903) The drive control unit 231 executes reproduction of a border-inarea included in the physical format information using the addressinformation of the border-in area obtained in step S1901 or S1904, inaccordance with the control program incorporated with the physicalformat information reproducing unit 262.

In FIG. 13, the address information 1343 of the border-in area recordedin the physical format area 1332 includes the address information of theborder-in area 1310.

(S1904) The drive control unit 231 transfers the physical formatinformation reproduced in step S1903 to the physical format informationmemory 266 of the memory circuit 232 in accordance with the controlprogram incorporated with the physical format information reproducingunit 262.

(S1905) The drive control unit 231 refers to the latest physical formatinformation stored in the physical format information memory 266 inaccordance with the control program incorporated with the physicalformat information reproducing unit 262, and obtains the physicaladdress of the end of the accessible area from the address informationof the logical zone. In FIG. 13, since a second logical zone 116 ispositioned at the end of the accessible area, the physical address ofthe end of the accessible area can be obtained based on the addressinformation 144 of the second logical zone 116 recorded in the physicalformat information area 1335.

(S1906) The system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drivedevice 205 to reproduce the volume structure area 118 in accordance witha control program incorporated with the volume structure reproducingunit 214.

The optical disk drive device 205 transfers the volume structure of theloaded information recording medium 1300 to the data memory 221 of thememory circuit 202. In this case, a volume structure as shown in FIG. 16is read out.

Thereafter, the system control unit 201 obtains the address informationof a file set descriptor 161 or a partition starting location 405 fromthe volume structure read out. Further, the system control unit 201recognizes that a VAT structure is recorded, based on a type 1 partitionmap 407 registered at partition reference number 0 and a virtualpartition map 408 registered at partition reference number 1.

(S1907) The system control unit 201 obtains the address information of alogical zone stored in the physical format information memory 266 of theoptical disk drive device 205 as the physical address of the end of theaccessible area, in accordance with a control program incorporated withthe VAT structure reproducing unit 282. The system control unit 201converts a physical address to a logical address. Further, the systemcontrol unit 201 instructs the optical disk drive device 205 toreproduce the VATICB 176 recorded at the end of the accessible area.

The optical disk drive device 205 reads and transfers the VATICB 176 tothe VAT structure memory 283.

Thereafter, the system control unit 201 interprets the addressinformation of the VAT included in the VATICB 176 read out, reads theVAT 1375 recorded in the VAT structure area 1330, and stores the VAT1375 into the VAT structure memory 283.

(S1908) The system control unit 201 refers to a VAT entry, in which thefile entry of a target file or directory is registered, using the VATobtained in step S1907 when a target file and the management informationthereof are managed using virtual addresses, in accordance with acontrol program incorporated with the file structure reproducing unit215. Thereafter, the system control unit 201 converts a virtual addressto a logical address and, using the file set descriptor 161 as astarting point, sequentially reads out a root directory file entry (FE)174 and a root directory recorded therein, a directory (AV-Dir) FE 167and a directory (AV-Dir) recorded therein, and an AVfile FE 166.Thereafter, the system control unit 201 obtains a position at which anAVfile is recorded.

(S1909) Finally, the system control unit 201 reads out an AVfile 165 inaccordance with a control program incorporated with the file reproducingunit 216, thereby completing the file reproduction.

However, when an information reproducing apparatus, which does not havean ability to detect a position in an unrecorded area, obtains the endposition of an accessible area from an information recording mediumwhich records information in the above-described manner, the operationof reproducing information from a physical format information area andthe operation of determining the recording state of a statedetermination area need to be alternately executed. Therefore, a timerequired for searching the end position of an accessible area isdisadvantageously long.

Further, when an information reproducing apparatus searches a targetfile, both a volume structure and a VAT structure need to be searched.Therefore, the number of times data is recorded in the same area is notlimited. When the information recording medium 1300 is used, a filesearch process needs to be more complicated and therefore a processingtime is long, compared with when an information recording medium havinga volume file structure which does not use an address conversionmechanism such as VAT is employed.

Furthermore, an AVfile may be used not only in a PC system including alarge capacity memory and a high-speed processor, but also in ahousehold AV apparatus including a limited capacity memory and arelatively poor performance processor. In this case, when an AVfile isrecorded on a disk after a number of data files which are used only byPC systems has been recorded on the disk, the size of a VAT becomeslarge in proportion to the total number of recorded files or themanagement information thereof. Therefore, AVfiles are managed usingvirtual addresses having relatively large values. A household AVapparatus requires a larger capacity memory or a higher performanceprocessor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an informationrecording medium comprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and avolume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance. Thevolume space is constructed so as to allow a logical zone for recordingat least a volume-file structure and an over-run protection area forpreventing an access to an unrecorded area to be alternately allocatedin the volume space. The lead-in area and the over-run protection areaeach include a chain volume management information area for storingchain volume management information. The chain volume managementinformation includes address information of a subsequent logical zoneand address information of a subsequent chain volume managementinformation area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the chain volume managementinformation area is provided at a fixed position in the over-runprotection area, and the address information of the subsequent chainvolume management information area indicates a head address of thesubsequent over-run protection area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the volume space is constructed soas to allow a lead-out area subsequent to a last over-run protectionarea to be allocated in the volume space. Dummy data is recorded in thechain volume management information area included in the last over-runprotection area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationrecording medium comprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and avolume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance. Thevolume space is constructed so as to allow an advanced VAT structurearea for storing at least an advanced VAT to be allocated in the volumespace. The advanced VAT is information for managing a correspondencebetween a virtual address indicating an address in a virtual addressspace and a logical address indicating an address in a logical addressspace. Basic structure information indicating a file structure isprovided at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, the basicstructure information being indispensable for searching all filesrecorded in the information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, the basic structure informationincludes VAT entries for a file set descriptor and a file entry of aroot directory. The advanced VAT includes a first VAT entry forassigning a logical address of the file set descriptor to a virtualaddress 0, and a second VAT entry for assigning a logical address of thefile entry of the root directory to a virtual address 1.

In one embodiment of this invention, the advanced VAT structure area isallocated at an end of an accessible area.

In one embodiment of this invention, specific application structureinformation indicating a file structure is allocated in a specificvirtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific applicationstructure information being indispensable for searching an AVfilerecorded in the information recording medium. The basic structureinformation and the specific application structure information arerecorded within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.

In one embodiment of this invention, the advanced VAT structure area isallocated at an end of an accessible area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the volume space is constructed soas to allow a logical zone for recording at least a volume-filestructure and an over-run protection area for preventing an access to anunrecorded area to be alternately allocated in the volume space. Thelead-in area and the over-run protection area each include a chainvolume management information area for recording chain volume managementinformation. The chain volume management information includes addressinformation of a subsequent logical zone and address information of asubsequent chain volume management information area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the chain volume managementinformation area is allocated at a fixed position in the over-runprotection area, and the address information of the subsequent chainvolume management information area indicates a head address of thesubsequent over-run protection area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the volume space is constructed soas to allow a lead-out area subsequent to a last over-run protectionarea to be allocated in the volume space. Dummy data is recorded in thechain volume management information area included in the last over-runprotection area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the basic structure informationincludes VAT entries for a file set descriptor and a file entry of aroot directory. The advanced VAT includes a first VAT entry forassigning a logical address of the file set descriptor to a virtualaddress 0, and a second VAT entry for assigning a logical address of thefile entry of the root directory to a virtual address 1.

In one embodiment of this invention, specific application structureinformation indicating a file structure is allocated in a specificvirtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific applicationstructure information being indispensable for searching an AVfilerecorded in the information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, the basic structure information andthe specific application structure information are recorded within onesector from a head of the advanced VAT.

In one embodiment of this invention, the advanced VAT structure area isallocated at an end of an accessible area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forrecording information into an information recording medium comprises adata recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space are allocated inthe data recording area in advance. The method comprises the step ofallocating a logical zone for recording at least a volume-file structureand an over-run protection area for preventing an access to anunrecorded area alternately in the volume space. The lead-in area andthe over-run protection area each include a chain volume managementinformation area. The method further comprises the step of recording thechain volume management information including address information of asubsequent logical zone and address information of a subsequent chainvolume management information into the chain volume managementinformation area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forrecording information into an information recording medium comprises adata recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space are allocated inthe data recording is area in advance. The method comprises the steps ofallocating an advanced VAT structure area in the volume space, andrecording an advanced VAT for managing a correspondence between avirtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and alogical address indicating an address in a logical address space intothe advanced VAT structure area. Basic structure information indicatinga file structure is allocated at a specific virtual address in theadvanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable forsearching all files recorded in the information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, specific application structureinformation indicating a file structure is allocated in a specificvirtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific applicationstructure information being indispensable for searching an AVfilerecorded in the information recording medium. The basic structureinformation and the specific application structure information areprovided within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.

In one embodiment of this invention, the method comprises the step ofallocating a logical zone for recording at least a volume-file structureand an over-run protection area for preventing an access to anunrecorded area alternately in the volume space. The lead-in area andthe over-run protection area each include a chain volume managementinformation area. The method comprises the step of recording the chainvolume management information including address information of asubsequent logical zone and address information of a subsequent chainvolume management information into the chain volume managementinformation area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a device forrecording information into an information recording medium comprises adata recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space are allocated inthe data recording area in advance. The device comprises a section forallocating a logical zone for recording at least a volume-file structureand an over-run protection area for preventing an access to anunrecorded area alternately in the volume space. The lead-in area andthe over-run protection area each include a chain volume managementinformation area. The device further comprises a section for recordingthe chain volume management information including address information ofa subsequent logical zone and address information of a subsequent chainvolume management information into the chain volume managementinformation area.

According to another aspect or the present invention, a device forrecording information into an information recording medium comprises adata recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space are allocated inthe data recording area in advance. The device comprises a section forallocating an advanced VAT structure area in the volume space. A sectionfor recording an advanced VAT for managing a correspondence between avirtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and alogical address indicating an address in a logical address space intothe advanced VAT structure area. Basic structure information indicatinga file structure is allocated at a specific virtual address in theadvanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable forsearching all files recorded in the information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, specific application structureinformation indicating a file structure is allocated in a specificvirtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific applicationstructure information being indispensable for searching an AVfilerecorded in the information recording medium. The basic structureinformation and the specific application structure information areprovided within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.

In one embodiment of this invention, the device comprises a section forallocating a logical zone for recording at least a volume-file structureand an over-run protection area for preventing an access to anunrecorded area alternately in the volume space. The lead-in area andthe over-run protection area each include a chain volume managementinformation area. The device comprises a section for recording the chainvolume management information including the address information of asubsequent logical zone and the address information of a subsequentchain volume management information into the chain volume managementinformation area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forreproducing information recorded in an information recording mediumcomprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space areallocated in the data recording area in advance, a logical zone forrecording at least a volume-file structure and an over-run protectionarea for preventing an access to an unrecorded area are alternatelyallocated in the volume space, the lead-in area and the over-runprotection area each include a chain volume management information area,and the chain volume management information including addressinformation of a subsequent logical zone and address information of asubsequent chain volume management information area is recorded in thechain volume management information area. The method comprises the stepsof accessing the chain volume management information area included ineach of the lead-in area and the over-run protection area in a chainedmanner, and performing a reproduction operation in accordance withinformation read out from the chain volume management information area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forreproducing information recorded in an information recording mediumcomprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space areallocated in the data recording area in advance, a volume structure areaand an advanced VAT structure area are allocated in the volume space, anadvanced VAT information for managing a correspondence between a virtualaddress indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logicaladdress indicating an address in a logical address space is recorded inthe advanced VAT structure area, and basic structure informationindicating a file structure is allocated at a specific virtual addressin the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensablefor searching all files recorded in the information recording medium.The method comprises the steps of obtaining a logical address of thebasic structure information from the advanced VAT stored in the advancedVAT structure area without accessing the volume structure area, andreading out the basic structure information in accordance with thelogical address of the basic structure information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method forreproducing information recorded in an information recording mediumcomprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space areallocated in the data recording area in advance, an advanced VATstructure area is allocated in the volume space, an advanced VATinformation for managing a correspondence between a virtual addressindicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical addressindicating an address in a logical address space is recorded in theadvanced VAT structure area, basic structure information indicating afile structure is allocated at a specific virtual address in theadvanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable forsearching all files stored in the information recording medium, specificapplication structure information indicating a file structure isallocated in a specific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, thespecific application structure information being indispensable forsearching an AVfile recorded in the information recording medium, andthe basic structure information and the specific application structureinformation are allocated within one sector from a head of the advancedVAT. The method comprises the steps of reading out information withinone sector from a head of the advanced VAT recorded in the advanced VATstructure area, and performing a reproduction operation based on thebasic structure information and the specific application structureinformation included in the read out information.

In one embodiment of this invention, a logical zone for storing at leasta volume-file structure and an over-run protection area for preventingan access to an unrecorded area are alternately allocated in the volumespace, the lead-in area and the over-run protection area each include achain volume management information area, and the chain volumemanagement information including address information of a subsequentlogical zone and address information area of a subsequent chain volumemanagement information is recorded in the chain volume managementinformation area. The method comprises the steps of accessing the chainvolume management information area included in each of the lead-in areaand the over-run protection area in a chained manner, and performing areproduction operation in accordance with information read out from thechain volume management information area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a device forreproducing information recorded in an information recording mediumcomprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space areallocated in the data recording area in advance, a logical zone forstoring at least a volume-file structure and an over-run protection areafor preventing an access to an unrecorded area are alternately allocatedin the volume space, the lead-in area and the over-run protection areaeach include a chain volume management information area, and the chainvolume management information area including address information of asubsequent logical zone and address information of a subsequent chainvolume management information area is recorded in the chain volumemanagement information area. The device comprises a section foraccessing the chain volume management information area included in eachof the lead-in area and the over-run protection area in a chainedmanner, and a section for performing a reproduction operation inaccordance with information read out from the chain volume managementinformation area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a device forreproducing information recorded in an information recording mediumcomprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space areallocated in the data recording area in advance, a volume structure areaand an advanced VAT structure area are allocated in the volume space, anadvanced VAT information for managing a correspondence between a virtualaddress indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logicaladdress indicating an address in a logical address space is recorded inthe advanced VAT structure area, and basic structure informationindicating a file structure is allocated at a specific virtual addressin the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensablefor searching all files recorded in the information recording medium.The device comprises a section for obtaining a logical address of thebasic structure information from the advanced VAT stored in the advancedVAT structure area without accessing the volume structure area, and asection for reading out the basic structure information in accordancewith the logical address of the basic structure information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a device forreproducing information recorded in an information recording mediumcomprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and a volume space areallocated in the data recording area in advance, an advanced VATstructure area is allocated in the volume space, an advanced VAT formanaging a correspondence between a virtual address indicating anaddress in a virtual address space and a logical address indicating anaddress in a logical address space is recorded in the advanced VATstructure area, basic structure information indicating a file structureis allocated at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, thebasic structure information being indispensable for searching all filesrecorded in the information recording medium, specific applicationstructure information indicating a file structure is allocated in aspecific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specificapplication structure information being indispensable for searching anAVfile recorded in the information recording medium, and the basicstructure information and the specific application structure informationare provided within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT. Thedevice comprises a section for reading out information within one sectorfrom a head of the advanced VAT recorded in the advanced VAT structurearea, and a section for performing a reproduction operation based on thebasic structure information and the specific application structureinformation included in the read out information.

In one embodiment of this invention, a logical zone for recording atleast a volume-file structure and an over-run protection area forpreventing an access to an unrecorded area are alternately allocated inthe volume space, the lead-in area and the over-run protection area eachinclude a chain volume management information area, and the chain volumemanagement information including address information of a subsequentlogical zone and address information of a subsequent chain volumemanagement information is recorded in the chain volume managementinformation area. The device comprises a section for accessing the chainvolume management information area included in each of the lead-in areaand the over-run protection area in a chained manner, and a section forperforming a reproduction operation in accordance with information readout from the chain volume management information area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationrecording medium comprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and avolume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance. Alogical zone for recording at least a volume-file structure and anover-run protection area for preventing an access to an unrecorded areaare alternately allocated in the volume space. The lead-in area and theover-run protection area each include a chain volume managementinformation area. Chain volume management information including addressinformation of a subsequent logical zone and address information of asubsequent chain volume management information area is recorded in thechain volume management information area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the chain volume managementinformation area is provided at a fixed position in the over-runprotection area, and the address information of the subsequent chainvolume management information indicates a head address of the subsequentover-run protection area.

In one embodiment of this invention, a lead-out area subsequent to alast over-run protection area is allocated in the volume space. Dummydata is recorded in the chain volume management information areaincluded in the last over-run protection area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationrecording medium comprises a data recording area. A lead-in area and avolume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance. Anadvanced VAT structure area is allocated in the volume space. AdvancedVAT information for managing a correspondence between a virtual addressindicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical addressindicating an address in a logical address space is recorded in theadvanced VAT structure area. Basic structure information indicating afile structure is recorded at a specific virtual address in the advancedVAT, the basic structure information being indispensable for searchingall files recorded in the information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, the basic structure informationincludes VAT entries for a file set descriptor and a file entry of aroot directory. The advanced VAT includes a first VAT entry forassigning a logical address of the file set descriptor to a virtualaddress 0, and a second VAT entry for assigning a logical address of thefile entry of the root directory to a virtual address 1.

In one embodiment of this invention, the advanced VAT structure area isallocated at an end of an accessible area.

In one embodiment of this invention, specific application structureinformation indicating a file structure is allocated in a specificvirtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific applicationstructure information being indispensable for searching an AVfilerecorded in the information recording medium. The basic structureinformation and the specific application structure information arerecorded within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.

In one embodiment of this invention, the advanced VAT structure area isallocated at an end of an accessible area.

In one embodiment of this invention, a logical zone for recording atleast a volume-file structure and an over-run protection area forpreventing an access to an unrecorded area is alternately allocated inthe volume space. The lead-in area and the over-run protection area eachinclude a chain volume management information area. Chain volumemanagement information including address information of a subsequentlogical zone and address information of a subsequent chain volumemanagement information area is recorded in the chain volume managementinformation area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the chain volume managementinformation area is allocated at a fixed position in the over-runprotection area, and the address information of the subsequent chainvolume management information area indicates a head address of thesubsequent over-run protection area.

In one embodiment of this invention, a lead-out area subsequent to alast over-run protection area is allocated in the volume space. Dummydata is recorded in the chain volume management information areaincluded in the last over-run protection area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the basic structure informationincludes VAT entries for a file set descriptor and a file entry of aroot directory. The advanced VAT includes a first VAT entry forassigning a logical address of the file set descriptor to a virtualaddress 0, and a second VAT entry for assigning a logical address of thefile entry of the root directory to a virtual address 1.

In one embodiment of this invention, specific application structureinformation indicating a file structure is allocated in a specificvirtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific applicationstructure information being indispensable for searching an AVfilerecorded in the information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, the basic structure information andthe specific application structure information are recorded within onesector from a head of the advanced VAT.

In one embodiment of this invention, the advanced VAT structure area isallocated at an end of an accessible area.

Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages ofproviding (1) an information recording medium in which an informationreproducing apparatus is prevented from accessing an unrecorded area andis able to search the end position of an accessible area at a higherspeed, a method and an apparatus for recording information in theinformation recording medium, and a method and an apparatus forreproducing information recorded in the information recording medium;and (2) an information recording medium in which files managed using VATcan be searched at a higher speed and the load of reproduction of anAVfile by a household AV apparatus can be reduced, a method and anapparatus for recording information in the information recording medium,and a method and an apparatus for reproducing information recorded inthe information recording medium.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the followingdetailed description with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information recordingmedium 100 according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a detailed data structure of an advancedVAT 163.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a detailed data structure of an advancedVAT 169.

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a detailed data structure of an advancedVAT 175.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 300 according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a formatting process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information recordingmedium after being formatted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a file recording process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a closing process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information recordingmedium after being subjected to the closing process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the case when a lead-out area is recorded inan unrecorded area.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a file reproducingprocess.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure of an informationrecording medium according to another example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data structure of an informationrecording medium according to still another example of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data structure of a conventionalinformation recording medium.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a directory structure in which filesrecorded in a disk are managed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional informationrecording/reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data structure diagram of an informationrecording medium after being subjected to a conventional formattingprocess.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a conventional closingprocess.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a data structure of an informationrecording medium after being subjected to a conventional closingprocess.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a conventional filereproducing process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An information recording medium according to the present inventionincludes chain volume management information areas provided in a lead-inarea and each over-run protection area. In each chain volume managementinformation, the address information of a subsequent logical zone andthe address information of the chain volume management information areaare recorded.

Further, an information reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention using such an information recording medium accesses a lead-inarea and subsequent over-run protection areas which are chained until anunrecorded area or chain volume management information in which disk endinformation is recorded is detected, reads out the latest chain volumemanagement information, and obtains the physical address of the end ofan accessible area from the address information of the last logicalzone. In such an accessing operation of the information reproducingapparatus, since the determination of recording states of subsequentlogical zones and the obtaining of the address information of subsequentchain volume management information areas are integrally executed, it ispossible to execute the obtaining of the physical address of the end ofan accessible area and the read operation of subsequent volume filemanagement information at a high speed using a simpler procedure.

Still further, in the information recording medium of the presentinvention, a VAT having an entry, to which a virtual address having aspecific and small value is assigned, is recorded as basic structureinformation indispensable for interpreting a volume file structure andspecific application structure information for managing a file used evenby a household AV apparatus.

For such an information recording medium, the information reproducingapparatus searches the latest VAT using a VATICB recorded at the end ofan accessible area, and interprets the basic structure information orspecific application structure information registered in the VAT, usinga specific virtual address to read out a target file. In such an accessoperation of the information reproducing apparatus, an access to avolume structure area is skipped and a VAT is read out. Positioninformation, in which the file entry of a target file is recorded, issearched in the VAT, thereby making it possible to read out the targetfile at a higher speed.

Furthermore, when an information recording medium records a VAT havingan entry in which a specific small value is assigned to the managementinformation of an AVfile used for a specific application (e.g., in thecase of an AVfile used in a household AV apparatus), even if the wholeVAT has a relatively large size, only a specific portion of the VAT inwhich an entry having a specific virtual address is registered issearched, thereby making it possible to read out a target file bysearching a VAT using a small capacity memory and a low performanceprocessor.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way ofillustrative examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An exemplary information recording medium according to the presentinvention is a DVD-R disk, a DVD-RW disk, or the like, in which filesare recorded in a volume space and the files are managed using a datastructure defined with the ISO/IEC 13346 standards or the UDF (UniversalDisk Format) standards. Such an information recording medium, a methodand an apparatus for recording information into the informationrecording medium, and a method and an apparatus for reproducinginformation from the information recording medium will be describedbelow.

Note that in the following description, descriptors, pointers, and thelike are recorded as a volume file structure in an information recordingmedium in accordance with the ISO/IEC 13346 or UDF standards, unlessotherwise specified.

1. Structure of Information Recording Medium

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information recordingmedium 100 according to an example of the present invention. Theinformation recording medium 100 is in conformity with the DVD-Rphysical standards (version 2.0), for example. In the informationrecording medium 100, a file is recorded using a volume file structuredefined by the DVD-R file system standards (version 2.0).

The information recording medium 100 includes a lead-in area 108 and avolume space 104.

The lead-in area 108 is positioned at the head of a data record area102. The volume space 104 is positioned in an area of the informationrecording medium 100 adjacent to an outer side of the lead-in area 108.

The lead-in area 108 includes a chain volume management information area132.

An over-run protection area 110 for preventing access to an unrecordedarea is assigned to the volume space 104. The over-run protection area110 includes a chain volume management information area 134.

An over-run protection area 112 is also provided in the volume space104. The over-run protection area 112 includes a chain volume managementinformation area 136.

A first logical zone 114 for recording at least a volume file structureis created between the lead-in area 108 and the over-run protection area110. A second logical zone 116 for recording at least a volume filestructure is created between the over-run protection area 110 and theover-run protection area 112.

In the chain volume management information area 132, chain volumemanagement information is recorded which includes the addressinformation 140 of the first logical zone 114 and the addressinformation 142 of the chain volume management information area 134.

In the chain volume management information area 134, chain volumemanagement information is recorded which includes the addressinformation 144 of the second logical zone 116 and the addressinformation 146 of the chain volume management information area 136.

The volume space 104 includes an unrecorded area 138.

In the first logical zone 114, a volume structure area 118, a filestructure/file area 120 and an advanced VAT structure area 122 aresequentially provided in a formatting process. Note that the procedureof the formatting process will be described later in detail withreference to FIG. 4.

In the volume structure area 118, a volume structure is recorded.

In the file structure/file area 120, a file set descriptor 161 and afile entry 162 for managing a root directory are recorded.

In the advanced VAT structure area 122, an advanced VAT 163 and a VATICB164 are recorded. The recording position of the advanced VAT 163 isdesignated by the VATICB 164 provided in the end sector of an area inwhich data is recorded.

In the first logical zone 114, a file structure/file area 124 and anadvanced VAT structure area 126 are sequentially allocated following theadvanced VAT structure area 122 in a file recording process. Note thatthe procedure of the file recording process will be described later indetail with reference to FIG. 6.

In the file structure/file area 124, a file and various file entries arerecorded. In an example shown in FIG. 1, an AVfile 165, an AVfile FE 166for managing the AVfile 165, a directory file (AV-Dir) FE 167 formanaging a directory file (AV-Dir), and a root directory FE 168 arerecorded in the file structure/file area 124.

Note that for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that these directoryfile FEs include a directory file itself having a relatively small size.

In the advanced VAT structure area 126, an advanced VAT 169 and a VATICB170 are recorded.

In the volume space 104, the over-run protection area 110 including theunrecorded chain volume management information area 134 is allocatedfollowing the advanced VAT structure area 126 in a closing process.Thereafter, the chain volume management information area 132 is recordedin the lead-in area 108. The closing process is executed in order toenable the latest volume file structure to be searched while preventingan information reproducing apparatus, which does not have an ability todetect a position in an unrecorded area, from accessing an unrecordedarea.

Note that the procedure of the closing process will be described laterin detail with reference to FIG. 7.

Next, in the second logical zone 116, a file structure/file area 128 andan advanced VAT structure area 130 are sequentially allocated followingthe over-run protection area 110 in a further file recording process.

In the file structure/file area 128, a file and various file entries arerecorded. In an example shown in FIG. 1, a Datafile 171, a Datafile FE172 for managing the Datafile 171, a directory file (Data-Dir) FE 173for managing a directory file (Data-Dir), and a root directory FE 174are recorded in the file structure/file area 128.

In the advanced VAT structure area 130, an advanced VAT 175 and a VATICB176 are recorded.

In the volume space 104, in a further closing process, the over-runprotection area 112 including the unrecorded chain volume managementinformation area 136 is allocated following the advanced VAT structurearea 130, and the chain volume management information area 134 in theover-run protection area 110 is allocated.

As described above, every time a file record process or a closingprocess is executed, an additional logical zone is created in betweenthe lead-in area 108 or the over-run protection area. A filestructure/file area and an advanced VAT structure area are allocated inthe logical zone.

The over-run protection area 112 is provided in order to prevent aninformation reproducing apparatus, which does not have an ability todetect a position in an unrecorded area, from overrunning into theunrecorded area 138 when the apparatus accesses the VATICB 176 or thechain volume management information area 136. The chain volumemanagement information area 136 is an unrecorded area having severaltracks. Recorded areas are provided before and after the chain volumemanagement information area 136. Therefore, the information reproducingapparatus does not malfunction.

When a chain volume management information area is allocated in aspecific position in an over-run protection area, the addressinformation of the over-run protection area is easily obtained from theaddress information of the chain volume management information area.

Note that the address information of chain volume management informationmay indicate the head address of an over-run protection area (e.g., thephysical address of a head sector).

For example, the chain volume management information area 136 is placedat a fixed position in the over-run protection area 112. The addressinformation of the chain volume management information area 136indicates the head address of an over-run protection area 112 (e.g., thephysical address of a head sector). The same applies to the chain volumemanagement information area 134.

The advanced VAT 175 includes a VAT header 148, basic structureinformation 150, specific application structure information 152, andgeneral-purpose application structure information 154.

The basic structure information 150 is used to define a basic structureshared by a plurality of applications (e.g., a structure indispensablefor interpreting a file structure, such as the file set descriptor 161or the root directory file entry 162).

The specific application structure information 152 is used to define aspecific application structure in association with a specificapplication out of a plurality of applications (e.g., a structureindispensable for searching an AVfile used in a household AV apparatus).

The general-purpose application structure information 154 is used tosearch a file in general applications, typically PC applications.

Note that the advanced VATs 163 and 169 each have a data structure (notshown) similar to that of the advanced VAT 175.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a detailed data structure of the advancedVAT 163. The advanced VAT 163 is recorded in the advanced VAT structurearea 122 in a formatting process.

The basic structure area of the advanced VAT 163 includes a VAT entry 0to which a virtual address 0 is assigned and a VAT entry 1 to which avirtual address 1 is assigned. The logical address of a root directoryfile entry is recorded in the VAT entry 1.

As described above, the VAT entry 0 is used to assign the logicaladdress of a file set descriptor to the virtual address 0, and the VATentry 1 is used to assign the logical address of a root directory fileentry to the virtual address 1.

Note that the VAT entries 0 and 1 generally follow a VAT header having alength of 152 bytes.

The specific application structure information of the advanced VAT 163includes VAT entries 2 through 255. In the advanced VAT 163, the VATentries 2 through 255 are unused. Specifically, a value FFFFFFFFh is setin each of the VAT entries 2 through 255.

The general-purpose application structure information of the advancedVAT 163 includes VAT entries 256 through 473. In the advanced VAT 163,the VAT entries 256 through 473 are unused. Specifically, a valueFFFFFFFFh is set in each of the VAT entries 256 through 473.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a detailed data structure of the advancedVAT 169. The advanced VAT 169 is recorded in the advanced VAT structurearea 126 in a process for recording an AVfile.

In the advanced VAT 169, the logical address of a directory (AV-Dir)file entry for managing an AVfile is recorded at the VAT entry 2, andthe logical address of a AVfile file entry is recorded at the VAT entry3.

In this manner, the logical address of a directory (AV-Dir) file entryfor managing an AVfile is recorded at the virtual address 2, and thelogical address of a AVfile file entry is recorded at the virtualaddress 3.

Note that the contents of the other VAT entries in the advanced VAT 169are the same as those of the corresponding VAT entries in the advancedVAT 163.

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a detailed data structure of the advancedVAT 175. The advanced VAT 175 is recorded in the advanced VAT structurearea 130 in a process for recording a Datafile.

In the advanced VAT 175, the logical address of a directory (Data-Dir)file entry for managing a data file is recorded in VAT entry 256, andthe logical address of a data file file entry is recorded in VAT entry257.

In this manner, the logical address of the directory (Data-Dir) fileentry for managing a data file is assigned to virtual address 256, andthe logical address of the data file file entry is recorded in virtualaddress 257.

Note that the contents of the other VAT entries in the advanced VAT 175are the same as those of the corresponding VAT entries in the advancedVAT 169.

Note that in each of the advanced VATs 163, 169 and 175, FFFFFFFFh,which is a logical address which does not exist in a logical addressspace, is registered in an unused VAT entry. The advanced VATs 163, 169and 175 each include a sector having a length of 2048 bytes.

In this example, a virtual address space is allocated in specificapplication structure information indispensable for searching an AVfileused even in a household AV apparatus. Similarly, a virtual addressspace is allocated in each of a plurality of pieces of specificapplication structure information. For example, the virtual addresses 3through 127 are assigned to a file structure required for searchingvideo files, while the virtual addresses 128 through 255 are assigned toa file structure required for searching audio files.

When a number of general-purpose files or directories are registered sothat the data size of the advanced VAT in the general-purposeapplication structure information exceeds 2048 bytes, the advanced VATis divided into a plurality of sectors.

As described above, even when an advanced VAT is divided into aplurality of sectors, since basic structure information and specificapplication structure information each have restricted virtualaddresses, the basic structure information and the specific applicationstructure information are recorded in one sector from the head of theadvanced VAT structure area.

Therefore, a household AV apparatus having a restricted capacity memoryand a relatively low performance processor can read out an AVfile at ahigh speed consistently using only the head sector of an area in whichan advanced VAT is recorded, even when the size of the advanced VATbecomes large as the total number of general-purpose files ordirectories registered in a volume space is increased.

2. Structure of Information Recording/Reproducing Apparatus

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 300 according to an example of thepresent invention.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus 300 functions as aninformation recording apparatus for recording information into theinformation recording medium 100 when a formatting process, a filerecording process, or a closing process is executed. Further, theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus 300 functions as aninformation reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recordedin the information recording medium 100 when a file reproducing processis executed.

The information reproducing apparatus 300 includes a system control unit201, a memory circuit 202, an I/O bus 203, a magnetic disk device 204,and an optical disk drive device 205.

The system control unit 201 is realized using a microprocessor includinga system control program and a memory. Specifically, the system controlunit 201 includes a volume structure recording unit 211, a filestructure recording unit 212, a file recording unit 213, and an advancedVAT structure recording unit 271. Further, the system control unit 201includes a file structure reproducing unit 215, a file reproducing unit216, and an advanced VAT structure reproducing unit 272. Furthermore,the system control unit 201 includes a closing process unit 217 and alead-out process unit 218.

The memory circuit 202 includes a data memory 221 and an advanced VATstructure memory 273.

The data memory 221 is used to calculate or temporarily store a volumestructure, a file structure, and a file. The advanced VAT structurememory 273 is used to calculate or temporarily store an advanced VATstructure.

The optical disk drive device 205 includes a drive control unit 231, amemory circuit 232, an internal bus 233, a recording/reproducing unit234, and an information recording medium 100.

The drive control unit 231 is realized using a microprocessor includinga system control program and a memory. Specifically, the drive controlunit 231 includes a chain volume management information recording unit251, an over-run protection area recording unit 252, a chain volumemanagement information reproducing unit 254, and a lead-out arearecording unit 255.

The memory circuit 232 includes a chain volume management informationmemory 253 and a buffer memory 241.

The chain volume management information memory 253 is used to calculateor temporarily store chain volume management information. A buffermemory 241 is used to calculate or temporarily store data transferred tothe optical disk drive device 205.

3. Formatting Process

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the procedure of a formatting process.Hereinafter, the formatting process procedure will be described on astep-by-step basis.

(S401) The system control unit 201 produces a volume structure, whichwill be recorded in the volume structure area 118, in the data memory221 of the memory circuit 202 in accordance with a control programincorporated with the volume structure recording unit 211. Such a volumestructure includes descriptors 401 through 412 and the like which holdvarious management information of a volume space 104 in conformity withthe ISO/IEC 13346 standards (FIG. 5). The detailed data structure of thevolume structure area 118 will be described later.

The system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drive device 205to record the volume structure produced in the data memory 221.

The optical disk drive device 205 records the volume structuretransferred from the data memory 221 into the volume structure area 118.When the volume structure is completely recorded, the optical disk drivedevice 205 notices the recording completion to the system control unit201.

(S402) The system control unit 201 produces a file set descriptor 161, aroot directory, and a file entry 162 for managing the root directoryinto a data memory 221. The system control unit 201 instructs theoptical disk drive device 205 to record the produced file structure intothe data memory 221.

The optical disk drive device 205 records the file structure, which istransferred from the data memory 221, into a file structure area 120.When the file structure is completely recorded, the optical disk drivedevice 205 notices the recording completion to the system control unit201.

(S403) The system control unit 201 produces a VAT 163 and a VATICB 164in a data memory 221 in accordance with a control program incorporatedwith the advanced VAT structure recording unit 271.

Further, the system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drivedevice 205 to record the advanced VAT structure produced in the datamemory 221.

The optical disk drive device 205 records the advanced VAT structure,which is transferred from the data memory 221, into the advanced VATstructure area 122. When the advanced VAT structure is completelyrecorded, the optical disk drive device 205 notices the recordingcompletion to the system control unit 201.

Note that in the case of a DVD-R disk, every time data recording isstopped, a linking area having a predetermined amount of dummy data maybe provided before and after a data recording unit. For the sake ofsimplicity, the description of data structure and data recording isomitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information recordingmedium after being formatted. When a “unrecorded” information recordingmedium is subjected to the above-described formatting process, theinformation recording medium obtains the data structure of FIG. 5.

4. File Recording Process

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the procedure of a file recording process.Hereinafter, the file recording process procedure will be described on astep-by-step basis.

Note that it is assumed that in the file recording process, an AVfilestored in the magnetic disk device 204 is recorded in accordance withthe directory structure of FIG. 14.

(S601) The system control unit 201 reads out an AVfile from the magneticdisk device 204 and transfers the AVfile to the data memory 221 of thememory circuit 202, in accordance with a control program incorporatedwith the file recording unit 213.

Next, the system control unit 201 produces an AVfile 165 and a directoryfile (AV-Dir), an AVfile entry FE (file entry) 166 for managing thesefiles, a directory file (AV-Dir) FE (file entry) 167, and a rootdirectory file entry 168 in which the content of a root directory isupdated.

When a directory file and a file entry in association with an AVfileeach are stored in the data memory 221, the system control unit 201instructs the optical disk drive device 205 to record these data, inaccordance with the control programs incorporated with the filestructure recording unit 212 and the file recording unit 213.

The optical disk drive device 205 records a file entry and a directoryfile, which are transferred from the data memory 221, and a filestructure/file including an AVfile into a file structure/file area 124.Note that for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that these directoryfile file entries include a directory file itself having a relativelysmall size. When the recording into the file structure/file area 124 iscompleted, the optical disk drive device 205 notices the recordingcompletion to the system control unit 201.

Note that a directory file (AV-Dir) is embedded and recorded in the fileentry 167 for managing the directory. Therefore, the directory fileitself is not shown.

(S602) The system control unit 201 updates the advanced VAT 169 and theVATICB 170 in the data memory 221 in accordance with the control programincorporated with the advanced VAT structure recording unit 271.

Further, the system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drivedevice 205 to record the advanced VAT structure produced in the datamemory 221. The optical disk drive device 205 records the advanced VATstructure, which is transferred from the data memory 221, into theadvanced VAT structure area 126. When the advanced VAT structure iscompletely recorded, the optical disk drive device 205 notices therecording completion to the system control unit 201.

5. Closing Process

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the procedure of a closing process.Hereinafter, the closing process procedure will be described on astep-by-step basis.

(S701) The system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drivedevice 205 to execute the closing process in accordance with a controlprogram incorporated with the closing process unit 217.

The drive control unit 231 of the optical disk drive device 205allocates an over-run protection area in the volume space 104 andrecords dummy data in the over-run protection area in accordance with acontrol program incorporated with the over-run protection recording unit252.

In this manner, a logical zone for recording at least a volume filestructure is provided between the lead-in area 108 (or an over-runprotection area) and an over-run protection area.

(S702) The drive control unit 231 produces chain volume managementinformation and records the produced chain volume management informationinto a chain volume management information area included in an over-runprotection area in accordance with a control program incorporated withthe chain volume management information recording unit 251.

The chain volume management information produced in this recordingoperation includes the address information of a subsequent logical zoneand the address information of an unrecorded chain volume managementinformation area which is provided in an over-run protection area newlyrecorded by the closing process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data structure of an information recordingmedium after being subjected to the closing process.

When an information recording medium having the data structure of FIG. 5is subjected to the AVfile recording and closing processes, theinformation recording medium obtains the data structure of FIG. 8.

Dummy data is recorded in the over-run protection area 110 excluding thechain volume management information area 134 (in the case of the datastructure of FIG. 8) or in the over-run protection area 112 excludingthe chain volume management information area 136 (in the case of thedata structure of FIG. 1). For example, the dummy data is 00h.

The chain volume management information is recorded in the chain volumemanagement information area 132 (in the case of the data structure ofFIG. 8), or in the chain volume management information area 134 (in thecase of the data structure of FIG. 1).

Further, the information recording medium 100 having the data structureof FIG. 8 is subjected to the data file recording and closing processes,thereby obtaining the information recording medium 100 having the datastructure of FIG. 1.

When recording an additional file into the information recording medium100 is prohibited, a lead-out area is recorded in the unrecorded area138.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the case when the lead-out area is recordedin the unrecorded area 138 having the data structure of FIG. 1.

The system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drive device 205to execute a lead-out process in accordance with a control programincorporated with the lead-out process unit 218.

The drive control unit 231 of the optical disk drive device 205allocates a lead-out area 140, in which dummy data is recorded, in adata recording area 102 in accordance with a control programincorporated with the lead-out area recording unit 255. Further, thedrive control unit 231 records dummy data into the unrecorded chainvolume management information area 136 in order to indicate that no newsubsequent chain volume management information area exists, inaccordance with the control program incorporated with the lead-out arearecording unit 255. For example, the dummy data is 00h.

6. File Reproducing Process

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the procedure of a file reproducingprocess. Hereinafter, the file reproducing process procedure will bedescribed on a step-by-step basis. Note that the AVfile of FIG. 14 isused as an example to explain the file reproducing process.

(S1001) When the drive control unit 231 detects that a disk is loadedinto the optical disk drive device 205, the drive control unit 231actuates the recording/reproducing unit 234 and reproduces chain volumemanagement information from the chain volume management information area132 of the lead-in area 108, in accordance with a control programincorporated with the chain volume management information reproducingunit 254. The reproduced chain volume management information is thentransferred from the chain volume management information area 132 to thechain volume management information memory 253.

(S1002) The drive control unit 231 tries to reproduce a chain volumemanagement information area, based on the address information 142 of thechain volume management information area 134 included in the chainvolume management information obtained in step S1001, in accordance witha control program incorporated with the chain volume managementinformation reproducing unit 254.

In FIG. 1, the address information 142 of a chain volume managementinformation area recorded in the chain volume management informationarea 132 includes the position information of the chain volumemanagement information area 134. The address information 146 of a chainvolume management information area recorded in the chain volumemanagement information area 134 includes the position information of thechain volume management information area 136.

If the chain volume management information area designated by such areproducing operation is not unrecorded and a chain volume managementinformation can be reproduced from the chain volume managementinformation area, step S1003 and thereafter are executed. If the chainvolume management information area designated by such a reproducingoperation is unrecorded and a chain volume management information cannotbe reproduced from the chain volume management information area, stepS1004 and thereafter are executed.

(S1003) The drive control unit 231 transfers, the chain volumemanagement information reproduced in step S1002 to the chain volumemanagement information memory 253 in accordance with a control programincorporated with the chain volume management information reproducingunit 254.

(S1004) The drive control unit 231 obtains the physical address of theend of an accessible area from the address information of a logicalzone, by referring to the latest chain volume management information, inaccordance with the control program incorporated with the chain volumemanagement information reproducing unit 254.

In FIG. 1, the physical address of the end of an accessible area isobtained based on the address information 144 of the second logical zone116 recorded in the chain volume management information area 134.

(S1005) The system control unit 201 obtains the address information 144of the second logical zone 116 recorded in the chain volume managementinformation memory 253 of the optical disk drive device 205, as thephysical address of the end of an accessible area, in accordance with acontrol program incorporated with the advanced VAT structure reproducingunit 272.

Next, the system control unit 201 instructs the optical disk drivedevice 205 to reproduce the VATICB 176 recorded at the end of theaccessible area using the physical address. The optical disk drivedevice 205 reads out and transfers the VATICB 176 to the advanced VATstructure memory 273. Note that the system control unit 201 canrecognize that a VAT structure is recorded, without reading out a volumestructure, since a VATICB is recorded at the end of an accessible area.

The system control unit 201 obtains logical addresses indicatingrecording positions of VATICB 176 from the read-out tag locationinformation 177. The system control unit 201 also converts the physicaladdress of the end of a previously obtained accessible area into alogical sector number. A logical sector number corresponding to apartition starting location to which a logical address 0 is assigned iscalculated by subtracting a logical address read out from tag locationinformation from the logical sector number of the end of the accessiblearea. Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain a partition startinglocation from a volume structure.

Further, the system control unit 201 interprets the is addressinformation of the advanced VAT 175 included in the read out VATICB 176,and reads out and stores the advanced VAT 175 into the advanced VATstructure 273. Note that when an advanced VAT is recorded using aplurality of sectors, only a head sector required for reproduction of anAVfile is read out.

(S1006) The system control unit 201 reads out the physical addresses offile set descriptors registered from the advanced VAT 175 to VAT entry 0obtained in step S1005, in accordance with the control program stored inthe file structure reproducing section 215, and reads out the file setdescriptor 161 using a partition reference number and a logical blockaddress included in the logical address, in accordance with the controlprogram incorporated with the file structure reproducing unit 215.Similar to the case of a file set descriptor, the system control unit201 reads out the root directory FE 174 registered in VAT entry 1 andsearches the management information of a directory (AV-Dir) from a rootdirectory recorded as a part of the root directory FE 174 whileconverting a virtual address into a logical address.

Next, the system control unit 201 reads out the directory (AV-Dir) FE167 registered in VAT entry 2 and searches the management information ofan AVfile from the directory (AV-Dir) recorded as a part of thedirectory (AV-Dir) FE 167. Further, the system control unit 201 readsout the directory (AVfile) FE 166 registered in VAT entry 17 and obtainsthe recording position of a target AVfile.

(S1007) Finally, the system control unit 201 reads out the file (AVfile)165 and completes file reproduction, in accordance with a controlprogram incorporated with the file reproducing unit 216.

In accordance with the above-described procedure, the informationrecording/reproducing device 300 searches and reproduces an AVfile at ahigh speed while preventing access to an unrecorded area. Note that instep S1006, the management information of a directory (AV-Dir) issearched using a file set descriptor and a root directory, andthereafter an AVfile file entry is read out and a target AVfile is readout.

However, if a specific virtual address is assigned to a directory(AV-Dir) file entry or AVfile file entry similar to a file setdescriptor or root directory, it is possible to directly search thedirectory (AV-Dir) file entry without accessing the file set descriptorand the root directory. Thereby, an AVfile can be searched andreproduced at a higher speed.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, theaddress information of a subsequent logical zone and the addressinformation of a chain volume management information area assigned in anover-run protection area are recorded in a lead-in area and the over-runprotection area.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventionusing such an information recording medium can search the physicaladdress of the end of an accessible area while preventing access to anunrecorded area by sequentially accessing only chain volume managementinformation areas in a lead-in area and an over-run protection area. Asdescribed with reference to FIG. 19, the access frequency is reducedsubstantially by half and the processing time is significantly reduced,as compared with a conventional information recording/reproducingapparatus in which the physical address of the end of an accessible areais searched by accessing alternately a physical format information areaand a state determination area.

In the information recording medium of the present invention, anadvanced VAT, in which a specific virtual address is assigned to a fileset descriptor or a root directory file entry as basic structureinformation, is recorded in an advanced VAT structure area.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventionusing such an information recording medium, when executing filereproduction, can directly search a file set descriptor and a rootdirectory file entry to which specific virtual addresses are assigned,without searching a volume structure. Thereby, the access time isreduced.

Further, in the information recording medium of the present invention,an advanced VAT, in which a specific virtual address is assigned to adirectory (AV-Dir) file entry or an AVfile file entry as a specificapplication structure information, is recorded in an advanced VATstructure area.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventionusing such an information recording medium, when reproducing an AVfile,can search directly a directory (AV-Dir) file entry or an AVfile fileentry to which specific virtual addresses are assigned, withoutsearching a basic structure information such as a file set descriptorand a root directory file entry. Thereby, the access time is furtherreduced. When such an AVfile is reproduced, only a VAT entry recorded atthe head sector of an advanced VAT is used, thereby making it possibleto read out an AVfile at a high speed in accordance with a simpleprocedure even when a household AV apparatus having a limited capacitymemory and a relatively low performance processor is used.

In the above-described example, an information recording medium in whichchain volume management information is recorded in a lead-in area and anover-run protection area is explained. A method and an apparatus forrecording information into such an information recording medium, and amethod and an apparatus for reproducing information recorded in theinformation recording device are explained.

Note that, an information recording medium, in which chain volumemanagement information is recorded in a lead-in area and an over-runprotection area and in which an advanced VAT in which specific virtualaddresses are assigned to a file set descriptor and a root directoryfile entry as basic structure information is not recorded in an advancedVAT structure area, is also present in the scope of the presentinvention. A method and an apparatus for recording information into suchan information recording medium, and a method and an apparatus forreproducing information recorded in the information recording medium arealso present in the scope of the present invention. In this case,sequential access to chain volume management information areas in alead-in area and an over-run protection area makes it possible to searchthe physical address of the end of an accessible area while preventingaccess to an unrecorded area. Thereby, the access frequency is reducedsubstantially by half and the processing time is significantly reduced.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an information recording medium in whichchain volume management information is recorded in a lead-in area and anover-run protection area and in which an advanced VAT in which specificvirtual addresses are assigned to a file set descriptor and a rootdirectory file entry as basic structure information is not recorded inan advanced VAT structure area.

Note that in the chain volume management information area 132 of theinformation recording medium of FIG. 11, the physical addressinformation 1202 of a border-in area as well as the physical addressinformation 140 of a first logical zone and the physical addressinformation 142 of a chain volume management information area arerecorded. Further, a border-in area 1204 may be provided following anover-run protection area 110 as shown in FIG. 11.

The border-in area 1204 includes a physical format information area1206. In the physical format information area 1206, the physical addressinformation 144 of a second logical zone, the physical addressinformation 1346 of a chain volume management information area, and thephysical address information 1347 of an unrecorded area 138 are isrecorded. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an information recording medium1200 having such a data structure.

As described above, the information recording medium 1200 can bereproduced using the conventional information recording/reproducingapparatus 1500.

Note that, an information recording medium, in which an advanced VAT inwhich specific virtual addresses are assigned to a file set descriptorand a root directory file entry as basic structure information isrecorded in an advanced VAT structure area and in which a chain volumemanagement information is not recorded in a lead-in area and an over-runprotection area, is also present in the scope of the present invention.A method and an apparatus for recording information into such aninformation recording medium, and a method and an apparatus forreproducing information recorded in the information recording medium arealso present in the scope of the present invention. In this case, when afile is reproduced, it is possible to search directly a file setdescriptor and a root directory file entry to which specific virtualaddresses are assigned without searching no volume structure. Thereby,the access time is reduced.

An information recording medium according to the present inventionincludes chain volume management information areas allocated in alead-in area and each over-run protection area. In each chain volumemanagement information area, the address information of a subsequentlogical zone and the address information of the chain volume managementinformation area allocated in an over-run protection area immediatelyfollowing the logical zone are recorded.

An information reproducing apparatus according to the present inventionusing such an information recording medium sequentially accesses onlychain volume management information areas in a lead-in area and asubsequent over-run protection area, thereby making it possible tosearch the physical address of the end of an accessible area whilepreventing access to an unrecorded area. As described with reference toFIG. 19, the access frequency is reduced substantially by half and theprocessing time is significantly reduced, as compared with aconventional information recording/reproducing apparatus in which thephysical address of the end of an accessible area is searched byaccessing alternately a physical format information area and a statedetermination area.

Further, in the information recording medium of the present invention,an advanced VAT in which specific virtual addresses are assigned to afile set descriptor and a root directory file entry as basic structureinformation is recorded in an advanced VAT structure area.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventionusing such an information recording medium, when executing filereproduction, can search directly a file set descriptor and a rootdirectory file entry to which specific virtual addresses are assigned,without searching a volume structure. Thereby, the access time isreduced.

Furthermore, in the information recording medium of the presentinvention, an advanced VAT, in which a specific virtual address isassigned to a directory (AV-Dir) file entry or an AVfile file entry, isrecorded in an advanced VAT structure area.

The information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present inventionusing such an information recording medium, when reproducing an AVfile,can search directly a directory (AV-Dir) file entry or an AVfile fileentry to which specific virtual addresses are assigned, withoutsearching no basic structure information such as a file set descriptorand a root directory file entry. Thereby, the access time is furtherreduced. When such an AVfile is reproduced, only a VAT entry recorded atthe head sector of an advanced VAT is used, thereby making it possibleto read out an AVfile at a high speed in accordance with a simpleprocedure even when a household AV apparatus having a limited capacitymemory and a relatively low performance processor is used.

Various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof this invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of theclaims appended hereto be limited to the description as set forthherein, but rather that the claims be broadly construed.

1. An information recording medium comprising a data recording area, wherein: a lead-in area and a volume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance; an advanced VAT structure area is allocated in the volume space; an advanced VAT for managing a correspondence between a virtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical address indicating an address in a logical address space is recorded in the advanced VAT structure area; basic structure information indicating a file structure is assigned at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable for searching all files recorded in the information recording medium; specific application structure information indicating a file structure is assigned in a specific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific application structure information being indispensable for searching an AVfile recorded in the information recording medium; and the basic structure information and the specific application structure information are arranged within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.
 2. An information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the advanced VAT structure area is arranged at an end of an accessible area.
 3. An information recording method for recording information in an information recording medium comprising a data recording area, wherein: a lead-in area and a volume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance; and the information recording method comprises the step of: allocating an advanced VAT structure area in the volume space; and recording an advanced VAT for managing a correspondence between a virtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical address indicating an address in a logical address space in the advanced VAT structure area; basic structure information indicating a file structure is assigned at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable for searching all files recorded in the information recording medium; specific application structure information indicating a file structure is assigned in a specific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific application structure information being indispensable for searching an AVfile recorded in the information recording medium; and the basic structure information and the specific application structure information are arranged within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.
 4. An information recording device for recording information in an information recording medium comprising a data recording area, wherein: a lead-in area and a volume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance; and the information recording device comprises: a section for allocating an advanced VAT structure area in the volume space; and a section for recording an advanced VAT for managing a correspondence between a virtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical address indicating an address in a logical address space in the advanced VAT structure area; basic structure information indicating a file structure is assigned at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable for searching all files recorded in the information recording medium; specific application structure information indicating a file structure is assigned in a specific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific application structure information being indispensable for searching an AVfile recorded in the information recording medium; and the basic structure information and the specific application structure information are arranged within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT.
 5. An information reproducing method for reproducing information recorded in an information recording medium comprising a data recording area, wherein: a lead-in area and a volume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance, an advanced VAT structure area is allocated in the volume space, an advanced VAT information for managing a correspondence between a virtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical address indicating an address in a logical address space is recorded in the advanced VAT structure area, and basic structure information indicating a file structure is assigned at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable for searching all files recorded in the information recording medium; specific application structure information indicating a file structure is assigned in a specific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific application structure information being indispensable for searching an AVfile recorded in the information recording medium; and the basic structure information and the specific application structure information are arranged within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT; and the information reproducing method comprises the steps of: reading out information within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT recorded in the advanced VAT structure; and performing a reproduction operation based on the basic structure information and the specific application structure information included in the read out information.
 6. An information reproducing device for reproducing information recorded in an information recording medium comprising a data recording area, wherein: a lead-in area and a volume space are allocated in the data recording area in advance, an advanced VAT structure area is allocated in the volume space, an advanced VAT information for managing a correspondence between a virtual address indicating an address in a virtual address space and a logical address indicating an address in a logical address space is recorded in the advanced VAT structure area, and basic structure information indicating a file structure is assigned at a specific virtual address in the advanced VAT, the basic structure information being indispensable for searching all files recorded in the information recording medium; specific application structure information indicating a file structure is assigned in a specific virtual address range in the advanced VAT, the specific application structure information being indispensable for searching an AV file recorded in the information recording medium; and the basic structure information and the specific application structure information are arranged within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT; and the information reproducing device comprises: a section for reading out information within one sector from a head of the advanced VAT recorded in the advanced VAT structure; and a section for performing a reproduction operation based on the basic structure information and the specific application structure information included in the read out information. 